Leopoldo Menéndez López (30 April 1891 – 1965) was a Spanish military officer who fought for the Republicans during the Spanish Civil War.

Leopoldo Menéndez López
Birth nameLeopoldo Menéndez López
Born30 April 1891
Orduña, Biscay, Kingdom of Spain
Died1960 (aged 68–69)
Mexico D.F., Mexico
AllegianceRestoration (Spain) Kingdom of Spain (1907–1931)
Second Spanish Republic Spanish Republic (1931–1939)
Service / branch Regulares
Spanish Army
Spanish Republican Army
Years of service1907–1939
RankGeneral
CommandsAzaña Battalion (1936)
XXth Army Corps (1937–1938)
Army of Levante (1938–1939)
Battles / warsSpanish Civil War
AwardsRoyal and Military Order of Saint Hermenegild

Biography

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Before the war, he was an adviser of the prime minister Manuel Azaña.[1] A professional officer of the Spanish Army, he supported the Republican government during the Spanish Civil War. Later he was promoted to Colonel and in the Battle of Teruel, he led the XXth Army Corps.[2] In 1938, he led the Army of Levante in the battle of the XYZ Line.[3] In August 1938 he was promoted to General.

On February 16, 1939, he was one of the officers who said to the prime minister Juan Negrin that was impossible to continue the resistance[4] and in March 1939 he supported Casado's coup.[5] At the end of the war, he fled Spain to France and later he went to exiled in Mexico and died there.

References

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  1. ^ Thomas, Hugh. (2001) The Spanish Civil War. Penguin Books. London. p.867
  2. ^ Thomas, Hugh. (2001) The Spanish Civil War. Penguin Books. London. p.768
  3. ^ Thomas, Hugh. (2001) The Spanish Civil War. Penguin Books. London. pp.808-812
  4. ^ Thomas, Hugh. (2001) The Spanish Civil War. Penguin Books. London. p.867
  5. ^ Beevor, Antony. (2006). The Battle for Spain. The Spanish Civil War, 1936-1939. Penguin Books. London. pp. 390-392